No matter who you are, No matter where you are on life s journey, You are welcome here.

Transcription

1 No matter who you are, No matter where you are on life s journey, You are welcome here.

2 Welcome to Worship Welcome to St. Paul Church. We are glad you are here! 9 am Traditional Service in the Sanctuary / Totenfest 11am Celebration Service in Heritage Hall / Hanging of the Greens 4pm Hanging of the Greens in the Sanctuary Information for our friends ~ Our 9am Traditional Service is inspired with hymns, scripture and a theological based sermon. And our 11am Celebration Service has a relaxed family-friendly message with contemporary Christian music. Please feel free to try one or both styles of worship. The Nursery is open during 9 am service (first classroom in the hallway off the sanctuary) If the small person gets wiggly, there are toys & books to enjoy. Hearing devices, large print bulletins, and large Bibles (in church library) are available, please see your ushers if you have any questions. Our Worship Service is broadcast on KSTL-690 AM radio & streamed on Jubilee690.com at 9am Sundays and repeated at 9pm. We want to know you!! Please sign the Pew Pad today. If you are new to St. Paul, want your information updated or with us every week let us know you are here!! Please fill in your contact information and we will happily contact you as you wish. When you or a loved one is admitted to a hospital, please ask the hospital to notify the church office. If you have a new addition to your family, if your address or phone changes, please contact the church office so we can keep our records current. LEADING THIS TIME OF WORSHIP Lay Reader Lou Ryseff Nursery Care...Sandy & Bobby Lee Frerking Radio Renee Seaman Sound / Control Room..Greg Seaman and Tina LakeHopper Ushering Team.Larry Walton, Eric Gentry, Margot Uhrig, Sherri Gericki, Mary Lu Bretsch Welcome Center...Sandra Loeffler, Bob & Judy Harms Sunday School Assistants.....Al Scharf Director of Christian Education / Sunday School Teacher..Tyler Kohrs Director of Music Ministry Dan Fry Senior Pastor....Rev. Michelle Torigian 2

3 St. Paul United Church of Christ Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost November 25, :00 am OT = Old Testament NT = New Testament! Please stand if able ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE Shall We Gather at the River? Dale Wood CALL TO WORSHIP (from Revelation 1:5-6, 8) One: Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, All: The king above all kings on earth. One: The one who loved us has freed us from our sins, All: And has made us to be a kingdom, a beloved community in Christ. One: We are now all priests to one another, serving God together, All: To Christ be the glory and dominion forever, Amen! One: I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, All: The one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. INVOCATION (Unison) God is always present with us now, in this moment. Breathe deeply, and breathe in the Spirit of God. Open your hearts, and receive God s love in Jesus Christ. Awaken your understanding, and know that God is beyond time, God is beyond this world, and God s reign is forever. You belong to God, and God is with you, now and always. Amen. +OPENING HYMN Crown Him with Many Crowns 3

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5 +UNISON PRAYER OF RECONCILIATION Eternal Monarch: You who rule over all of us with justice and care, we confess that we do not submit ourselves to your leadership- that we do not always participate in your reign of equity and integrity. We have not followed the example you set forth. Instead, we often place our trust in leaders who let us down and in our own flawed leadership of others. Lead us, Christ our Sovereign, and set us on the path to righteous rule in all that we do. Amen. +ASSURANCE OF GRACE One: We who are dependent upon our divine ruler have Christ's example ever before us, to give us guidance and hope. Take heart that you are forgiven and may return to that example again. All: Amen! Thanks be to God! +PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. One: Let us share a sign of the peace with one another. CHILDREN S MOMENT with Tyler Kohrs ANTHEM Now Thank We All Our God Healey Willan Chancel Choir SCRIPTURE READING 1 Samuel 8:1-22 & John 18:33-37 SERMON Holy Monarchy TOTENFEST SERVICE Totenfest is a word created by the Evangelical church when it was formed in 19th century Prussia. The word refers to the liturgical remembrance of those who have died in the preceding year. While the celebration parallels the more common All Saints Day tradition, Totenfest was traditionally celebrated on the final Sunday of the church year. Names will now be read of our loved ones who have died in the past year. As the names are read, a bell will ring and candle will be lit in memory of the one who has died. One: Holy God, meet us here in this place as we mourn those who have died this year--sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, siblings and grandparents, significant others and friends. One: Holy God of wind and fire; All: Dance through this room today. One: Holy God of earthquakes and illness; All: Share our tears of sadness and pain. One: Holy God of creation and new beginnings; All: Show us again your vision of healing and wholeness. 5

6 +HYMN For All the Saints 2003, ABC Music Co., All rights reserved. OneLicense.net License #A

7 PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE with LORD S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. RECEIVING OUR MORNING GIFTS AND OFFERINGS One: Christ our sovereign and servant sets forth a just and compassionate domain in which the needs of the vulnerable and the powerful hang in righteous balance. Let us share what we have as we work toward Christ's reign here on earth. OFFERTORY Song of the Pilgrim,Op. 67, No. 3 Felix Mendelssohn +DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ in whom God s grace we know Praise Spirit, with us evermore; One God, triune, whom we adore. Amen. +UNISON DEDICATION PRAYER Righteous ruler, accept all that we have offered to you. May these gifts we gather participate in your realm of truth. Amen. + 7

8 CLOSING HYMN Rejoice, Give Thanks and Sing +BENEDICTION One: 2003, ABC Music Co., All rights reserved. OneLicense.net License #A As you enter your own domain today, remember Christ's reign of justice and compassion, setting it before you as an example now and always. Amen! +POSTLUDE All People That on Earth Do Dwell Gerhard Krapf Call to Worship, Invocation from reign-of-christ-sunday/ Prayer of Reconciliation, Assurance of Grace, Call to Offering, Dedication Prayer fromjust Rule, An Intergenerational Liturgy for Reign of Christ Sunday, was written by the Rev. Dr. Laurel Koepf Taylor, Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Eden Theological Seminary, Saint Louis, Missouri. Copyright 2018 Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH Prayers for Totenfest from written by Katherine Hawker (1995), and posted on Liturgies Outside. 8

9 Join us this year in sharing the joy of the season~ come to the Hanging of the Greens. On November 25th, we will begin Advent by decorating our church for the holiday season together. At the 11am Celebration Service, we will be Hanging the greens together. Then at 4:00pm, come back to church & help in the Sanctuary/ Welcome Center areas. Bring an appetizer and a drink. Some food and drink will be provided. After decorating, we could all go to dinner! Nov 25, 2018 St. Paul UCC Holiday Schedule Wednesday, December 19 6pm in Heritage Hall UÄâx V{Ü áàåtá fxüä vx The Blue Christmas service is an opportunity for people facing a difficult Christmas due to a variety of issues including the loss of a loved one, unhappy Christmas memories, seasonal depression, trauma, health issues or other transition. Monday, December 24 V{Ü áàåtá Xäx fxüä vxá 4:30pm & 7pm Sunday, December 30 axã lxtüëá jxx~xçw 9am Single Service with Guest Craig Bielke

10 CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS & MEMORIALS Help decorate our sanctuary for Christmas this year! We are planning a special display of assorted colors of poinsettias on Christmas Eve, December 24th. Please order through the church on the form below. **The poinsettias will not be personalized with tags; however, all will be recognized in the bulletin. There will be a variety of different colors of poinsettias and you are invited to choose one after the late service on Christmas Eve or later that week. We thank you for your understanding. You may also choose to give a cash gift in memory, in honor, or in celebration of a special person or event. Please fill out the form below and include a check in the amount of $10.00 for each plant. **Please note: We must have your poinsettia/memorial information no later than Friday, December 15th in order for your information to appear in our Christmas Eve bulletins - no exceptions. Poinsettias may be picked up after the last Christmas Eve Service of Worship or later that week (office/church closed December 25 and 26). The information you include below will appear in the Christmas Eve bulletins. Detach below I will order a poinsettia through Church. I wish to give a loving gift. (If by check, please make payable to St. Paul Church) IN MEMORY OF or IN HONOR OF or IN CELEBRATION FOR GIVEN BY 2

11 CONGEGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, December 9th immediately following the 9am service The Star Tree Stars in place at the Hanging of the Greens! Make sure to come!! benefiting families in the Franklin Neighborhood (Trying something new! Please read!) You can choose a Family Wreath of Stars or a Single Star Sign your name, contact info & the Star #(s) in the Star Tree Book, Buy age appropriate gifts, (please make sure gifts for families are of equal value, - go in with a friend or a group for a large family) Wrap them and attach the Star on the front of the gift, Return it to the tree no later than Tuesday, December 11th. Santa s elves from The Women s Guild Help those in need with Christmas Basket donations! hristmas is fast approaching and the Mission Board would like C to assist those less fortunate in the Franklin Neighborhood area. Monetary donations in any amount will enable us to provide a Christmas basket for these families. Donations may be mailed to the St. Paul Church office or placed in the offering plate. Please clearly mark your donation as Christmas Basket Donation. Thank you for your help. 3

12 Undie Sundays Please support the Mission Board in collecting new underwear, socks, pajamas, hats, and gloves for the children of our community. Help us ensure no child goes without basic needs this winter. Our goal is to provide each child at KinderCottage with the items listed above they need. Sizes 2 16 are requested. If we exceed our goal, thanks to your generosity, the items are distributed to other organizations within our community. If you are unable to shop, we will kindly accept cash donations. Collection box will be available for the next couple of weeks. If you miss collection at service, feel free to drop off at the church office. We appreciate your support! Winter Weekend 2019 is scheduled for January 19-21, 2019 (over the Martin Luther King Jr weekend). The event will take place at DuBois Center and the theme is "Speak Your Truth". The keynote speaker is Rev. Trayce Potter who is the Minister for Youth and Young Adult Engagement for the UCC. The cost remains the same as last year at $150 (early bird rate) or $165 (late registrations) which includes lodging and meals. We plan to have the information and registration packet go out to the churches & youth leaders within the week, so watch your s! We hope you will start to encourage your youth to attend this faith -filled and relationship-building event! Contact Tyler Kohrs about early registration. Adult Confirmation Class Information COMING SOON!! Contact Tyler Kohrs if interested. 4

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14 The wait is over! Peanut Squares are here!! On Sale after church on Sundays while they last! $7 for bag of 6 Many thanks for the well wishes upon my wedding to Jayne on Nov. 3. I look forward to seeing some of you on Dec. 2 between services to celebrate! Speaking of celebrating, Advent is here, and with that comes wonderful Advent and Christmas music of the season. You will hear bells, ensembles and full choir anthems, and please make a special point to join us on Dec. 9 at 9 for a full morning of musical selections which will be a preview of some of the repertoire we will do on our Fine Arts Music Ministry Christmas concert, which will involve the Chancel Choir and ensembles, handbells, soloists, the B Street Band, and audience carols. It is at a new day and time Saturday, December 15, at 7 pm. If you have come in the past, you know how beautiful this program is, if not, come join us as we bring and ring in the season of Christmas. Dan SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2 AN INVITATION TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF MR. & MRS. DAN and JAYNE FRY Our St. Paul Traditional Music Ministry extends an invitation to the Congregation to please join us for an informal, congratulatory reception celebrating the recent marriage of Dan and Jayne Fry. We will meet in the Activity Center on Sunday, December 2, immediately following the early service to enjoy sweet refreshments and share best wishes with Dan and Jayne as well as several of their family members. Plan to join us and share their joy as they begin this wonderful journey of marriage! 6

15 Mingles & Singles Christmas Party Friday, December 14th at 6:30pm Join us at Barb Suess home for a fun and festive evening 34 Kingston Dr., Belleville Please RSVP at or bjsuess15@yahoo.com Bring an appetizer or dessert to share and a beverage of your choice. THE CHRISTMAS FUND for the VETERANS OF THE CROSS Will be received on Sunday, December 16 For 115 years, the Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund has been a tangible expression of God s love and light in the world. Year after year, UCC congregations have reached out in kindness, compassion and gratitude to those who have faithfully shepherded our Church in the past and who now find themselves facing unexpected financial needs. The theme of this year s Christmas Fund Offering is The Light is Surely Coming. Our goal is to raise $1.7 million to help support these ministries of light and love. The recipients of your gifts are persons who have faithfully served the church for many years. And now, in their time of need, you can be the church to them. We invited and encourage you to join thousands of UCC members who will support this year s appeal and trust the light is surely coming. On behalf of the hundreds of clergy, lay employees and their families whose lives were touched by your support of the Christmas Fund Offering, we offer sincere thanks for your generosity! Your St. Paul Stewardship Board 7

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19 If you have cards that you don t need - thank you, bday, get well bring to the church office - we can put them to good use! Online Directory / Mobile App & Phone Directory Online Directory Coming Soon! Need to contact a member of this congregation, but you don t have your Guide Book & Directory with you? New this year, we are working with Guide Book Publishing to launch a highly secure Online Directory & Mobile App! Key Features: Easy to use search features One touch calling / texting / ing / directions The ability to upload your own photos Bank level password encryption This product will serve as an interactive pictorial directory without the commercial photography (no portrait session to attend, no pictures to buy). It is a safe, secure directory that can only be accessed by our congregation through our website or mobile app. This is in addition to our printed Guide Book & Directory. Please make sure the church office has your correct contact information! PHONE NUMBERS! ADDRESS! S! However, should you choose to not want to be a part of the Online Directory or printed Guide Book & Directory, please contact the church office, so we can remove your information from the list before uploading the information. If you have a company that is interested in advertising in this new product and the printed Guide Book & Directory please contact the office. It is through the support of advertisers in our community that these services continue to be provided to us at no cost. Thank you!!! 11

20 For Our Prayers Marsha McCoy - Bill Whicher For Our Thoughts We have to do the best we are capable of. This is our sacred human responsibility. Albert Einstein You have as much laughter as you have faith. Martin Luther Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Robert Frost St. Paul UCC Please see stpaulucc.org for full calendar of events! Sun, Nov 25 9am Combined Service Totenfest 10am Sunday School 11am Celebration Service 4pm Hanging of the Greens Mon, Nov 26 10am exercise class 4:30 Girl Scouts 6pm Volleyball Tues, Nov 27 9am Quilters 3pm Gov French 5pm Comm Dinner Wed, Nov 28 9:30 Baby Class Band / Bells / Choir Thurs, Nov 29 10am Adult Ed Class 4pm Masterworks 6:30 Adult Mission Trip Mtg 7pm Shufflers stpaulucc.org Weekly Attendance 9am / Celebration Nov 11, 2018 Nov 12, /Single Serv 147/24 SUNDAY SCHOOL TODAY!! 10am in the library with Tyler and friends! Feeling Social!? Fireside Group Meeting Sunday, Nov 25th at 6pm Come for dessert and enjoy guest speaker Susan Relfe Talk about the With You xxxprogram. All members and x friends are welcome! Women's Guild Christmas Party xxxwill be Tuesday, December 18th at xxx7pm. We will celebrate Christmas xxxwith the Christmas Story xxx&carols. Bring cookies to share xxxand 1 dozen for exchanging plus a xxx$5.00 Christmas Exchange xxxgift. And of course we'll have lots xxxof Appetizers. Come join in the xxxfun!! x 12